Christmas in Hiding

by Cate Nolan

  “Callie.” He raised a hand to knock on her door, but the sound of muffled sobs stilled it midair. He rested his head against the door, pleading silently. Don’t cry, sweetheart. It will all work out. He clenched his fist, resisting the urge to go in and hold her. “Cal, I’m going out to pick up dinner. Anything special you want?”

  He heard her sniffle and attempt to clear her throat. “No, thanks. I’m not very hungry.”

  * * *

  Callie heard the suite door close behind him and sat up. Forget waiting two days. He wasn’t going to change his mind. She needed to leave now, while he was gone.

  She quickly added a few pieces of clothing to her go bag and headed for the door. No. She couldn’t go without leaving him a note. He’d been too good to her and she knew he’d blame himself.

  There was no doubt he’d also come after her the minute he noticed her gone, so she resorted to the oldest trick in the book. She plumped up pillows and drew the comforter over them. For a final touch, she arranged the edge of one of her sweaters so it was hanging out the side. She tucked her note to him on the pillow under the blanket and stuck a second note to the bedroom door. I need some time alone. Please don’t disturb.

  Hopefully this would work long enough so she had time to get away. He’d immediately know where she was going, so her only hope was in buying time and taking an unusual route.

  Callie took one last look around the room before closing the door behind her. She had to fight back tears at the thought of never seeing Jackson again. Leaving him was hard. Knowing he’d feel betrayed was even worse. Her eyes stung as she ran down the back stairs and ducked out the service entrance. His words echoed in her mind. He’d made it clear there was no future for them, no way to be together. She had to do this.

  She hated to admit even to herself, but she might have given up on her quest for justice if he’d given her even a hint that they could be a couple, that they could build a family together. This bitter leaving was payback for her character weakness. As she’d written in her note, justice was all that mattered now.

  She couldn’t leave Jackson without a car, so Callie called a taxi to take her to the bus station. She had to stop for a minute and think where they were. After leaving Vermont, they’d driven south and west and had ended up in western Pennsylvania. But then they’d headed into central Pennsylvania to the safe house. She had two options: west to Pittsburgh or southeast to Philadelphia. Jackson would assume she was heading south, so she bought a ticket west. If she could get to Pittsburgh, she could catch a flight to Texas.

  EIGHTEEN

  Crowds were gathering, everyone dressed in their finest party clothes, as Jackson made his way through the hotel lobby. Dare they come down and join the celebration? No. He wouldn’t risk it. He really didn’t want to anyway. The thought of ringing in the New Year with just Callie made his heart sing with joy.

  If only he could tell her his plans, ask what she thought. Make sure she felt the same. But he vowed to say nothing until the case was done. They couldn’t risk the distraction.

  Jackson used the key card to open the door. He made sure it shut tightly behind him. As excited as a boy on Christmas morning, he set out the groceries and party foods he’d bought and called out for Callie. When there was no response, he walked over to her door.

  And came up against a sign asking that he leave her alone.

  The sign was like a bucket of ice water, dousing his hopes and plans for a fun evening. Dejected, he returned to the kitchenette and stored the food in the tiny refrigerator. Midnight was still several hours off. Maybe he’d follow her lead and take a nap so he was fresh for the celebration.

  Noise from the revelry downstairs jolted him awake hours later as the crowd counted down. “Ten, nine...”

  Jackson jumped up and dashed to Callie’s door. He knocked, and when there was no response, he cracked the door and peered in. Disappointment swamped him as he noted she was still sleeping soundly. He closed the door and went back into the living room.

  New Year’s Eve was a lonely time when you were all by yourself. He knew that from too many years of experience. He’d thought, hoped, that this year would be different. Spending New Year’s with the one he loved. Yes, he loved Callie. He knew that now. He’d hoped tonight would be the first of many New Year’s Eves they’d spend together.

  Jackson flipped on the television and vicariously enjoyed the celebration. He dozed fitfully, and when he woke at three, he decided to check on Callie again.

  He cracked the door. She hadn’t moved.

  Had not moved. No one slept like that. Suspicions gnawed at his gut. Had he really been that stupid?

  No, he’d trusted her. I don’t lie, she’d said. He looked at the sign on the door. Technically not a lie, but that didn’t really matter to him as he crossed the floor and pulled the blanket back.

  Pillows tumbled to the floor and Jackson sank down on the bed with a groan. He buried his face in his hands. “Oh, Callie. What did you do?”

  When he opened his eyes, he saw her note sitting on the pillow. Bracing himself for what it would say, he lifted the paper and carried it into the other room where he could see.

  Dear Jackson,

  Please don’t follow me.

  Thank you for everything you have done. I know you’ll say it’s just your job, but the caring and attention you gave me went far above and beyond just a job and I will always be grateful to God for putting you in my life at the time I needed you most. You’ve built my courage, showed me how to protect myself and reinforced my belief that justice must prevail.

  Justice is more important than my life right now. Not for revenge, not for my sake, but so these men are stopped before any more naive children are introduced to drugs, before any more innocent lives are lost. If I can stop them, then even if my life is lost in the process, I will have accomplished something worthy. Please don’t follow me. I don’t want you to try to stop me and I don’t want the burden of endangering your life.

  Thank you for reminding me that there are honorable men in this world, men who are truly worthy of love.

  Yours, Callie

  PS—I apologize for any professional embarrassment I’ve caused you. I have to do what I know is right.

  Jackson slammed his fist on the bed. Regret ripped through him. She didn’t have a clue what she was walking into.

  And whose fault was that?

  He grabbed his phone and tried calling her, but it went straight to voice mail. He dialed his boss next and paced the room while he listened to Logan’s phone ring.

  “Walker, it’s three a.m. This had better be good.”

  “It’s actually pretty bad, sir.” Jackson swallowed his pride. “My witness ran away.” He held the phone away from his ear to save his hearing. When Logan had calmed enough, he explained the situation.

  It was little comfort to hear his boss tell him he’d done nothing wrong. He had. He’d done the one thing that was unacceptable in WITSEC. He’d lost his witness.

  “I’m sure she’s heading for Austin, so I’ll be on the next flight out.” He had no intention of trying to track her. His only chance at stopping her was to get there faster. “If you can get some marshals at the airports or train stations, maybe we can get her before she goes to her house.”

  * * *

  Callie knew Jackson would probably have people waiting at the airports in Austin, so she’d bought a ticket to San Antonio instead. Once she landed there, she rented a car and began the drive.

  She had to push Jackson from her thoughts and concentrate on why she had come home, but that was easier said than done. Somewhere along Route 35, north of San Marcos but still south of Austin, Callie fell apart. Being back in Texas brought reminders of her previous life, of all she had lost.

  She tried hard not to think of Jackson because it hu
rt too much. How was it possible to care so much for someone you’d known for such a short period of time? Better that she think about the case and why someone would be after her. What did Rick have or know? She tried to recall everything she’d told Jackson about Rick, hoping something would click, but that only made her wallow in self-pity thinking about the differences between the men.

  It was so easy now for her to see that she’d never really loved Rick. Loving Jackson taught her the difference between affection, and a deep and abiding love.

  There, she’d let herself acknowledge it. Against all wisdom, she’d gone and fallen in love with her marshal. Jackson had become a part of her forever. Wherever she went in her life, a little piece of her heart would always be left behind with him. It just about killed her to think that she wouldn’t ever know what happened in his life.

  Tears started flowing again as she considered the injustice of it and all they had lost.

  It had been different with Rick. She saw that now. He hadn’t really wanted her. He’d wanted the image of them he’d created—the wealthy, young, hip, new-generation Texan. Lots of land, lots of money, all the best of everything. She thought of the model house he had given her in her classroom one day, promising that someday it would be theirs. She’d thought it was ugly. She wanted something small with a white picket fence and a garden.

  He’d responded that the house was her security. “You remember that, Callie darlin’,” he’d said. “If anything should ever happen to me, that house is your security.”

  Goose bumps rose along her arms and nerves shivered down her spine. Was that it? Was that where he’d hidden whatever it was the men wanted?

  Thankfully the road was fairly empty because her thoughts were consumed with this new idea. She was pretty sure now. The timing had been right. The more she thought on it, the more certain she was. She wanted so badly to call Jackson and tell him. But what if she was wrong? What if there was nothing there? Worse still, what if he tried to stop her from checking?

  * * *

  Callie drove around the block twice to make sure no one was following her. She’d driven by earlier, but the school had been crowded with families here for Football Fiesta.

  She was sad to have missed that. The New Year’s Day tradition of celebrating the high school’s football team was always a highlight of the school year, a chance for the whole community to have one more football celebration before hanging up the helmets and cleats until next season.

  The fiesta was over now. Only scattered streamers and balloons remained. The parking lot was empty, so she parked her rental car in a shopping center down the street so as not to draw attention. She strolled casually along the sidewalk until she got to the school. She stayed in the shadows and approached her classroom to look in the window. It was too dark to see in, but that didn’t keep emotion from overcoming her.

  She sank down on the grass, leaning against the brick wall, and buried her face in her hands. But she pulled herself together quickly; she didn’t have time to think about this now, time to grieve for all she’d lost. She had to get inside the school.

  She tried the front door, but it was locked. She’d been afraid of that. Too bad she didn’t have keys anymore.

  Waiting until the next day was not an option, not with Jackson likely on her heels and who knew who else chasing her. Callie glanced nervously over her shoulder. Whoever they were, they seemed to have an uncanny ability to discover her location even without the tracker. She’d felt safer when Jackson was with her.

  The urge to call him, to hear his voice, swamped Callie. Maybe he could help her get into the school. Surely he’d forgive her...

  Maybe not. Knowing he would more likely try to talk her out of her plan stifled the inclination. She could try Ben instead. She remembered Ben putting his number on her speed dial back in New York before all of this began. Jackson had said something about him being back in Texas. Maybe he could help.

  She ducked behind the garden wall to place the call, but Ben didn’t answer. She left a voice message, telling him she was headed to the school and to call right away if he got the message.

  Now what to do? Panic threatened. Why hadn’t she even thought about the school being locked? She’d been so intent on getting here that she hadn’t even considered the most important thing.

  Surely she hadn’t gotten this far to fail now. I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

  Callie breathed softly, allowing God’s love to flow over her. She wasn’t sure if the verse from Isaiah applied to when you were intentionally doing something risky, but she chose to believe it did. She focused on breathing and thinking calmly. There must be a way in; she just had to think about it. All those nights she’d been here late...

  Yes! The cleaning crew was notorious for leaving a back door ajar so they could go out for smoke breaks.

  Callie checked again to make sure she was alone. Then she sneaked through the garden and around the back. Sure enough, there was the door with just the smallest piece of cardboard stuck in to keep it from locking. She silently rejoiced at the payoff for all those nights and sank to her knees in thanks.

  Because she was on her knees already, she took a moment to pray. Dear Lord, help me to find what I need. Help me to be able to locate the evidence to stop these people from hurting anyone else.

  Callie didn’t want anyone who was cleaning to notice her movement, so she crawled along the wall toward the door. Once there, she eased it open and peered down the hall. Loud music was playing in the gym at the far end. The maintenance cart with its mops and brooms and cleaning supplies was parked outside the door. Good. They’d be there awhile cleaning all the debris. If she was quick, she should be able to make it as far as the cross hall before anyone came out.

  She didn’t think the janitors would say anything, but doubts plagued her. Could they have been involved, too? Could they have had anything to do with her classroom being trashed?

  No. She had to stop doing this. She couldn’t see everyone as a suspect. How could she even live like that? That’s what Jackson’s life was like. A wave of remorse washed over her. She wished she could have given him a respite from that, been a haven so he had someone in his life to love and trust.

  Wiping her eyes, she concentrated on making her way to her classroom. When she opened the door and slipped inside unnoticed, another wave of homesickness engulfed her, a longing for her old life in this room. She had built a community here, created a safe haven for her children from all the troubles of their young lives.

  She allowed herself a few minutes to wander the room, trailing a hand over a desk, stroking a favorite book. The new teacher had made some changes, and that hurt because it emphasized the permanence of her being gone.

  Tears clogged her throat when she spied the life-sized penguin perched in the rocking chair, but it also prompted her to get a move on. There would be time later for sentimental memories. She was here to do a job.

  A quick scan of the room told her the new teacher—or some official—had removed her belongings. Where could they have put them? She checked the closet, hoping to find at least some of her things, but nothing of hers was there. Her stomach cramped as she realized that of course they would have removed her stuff. They’d probably done that when the room was trashed, if not before.

  Or had the bad guys found the model house?

  With a sinking feeling, she had to acknowledge that possibility.

  Except none of her personal things were here. So hopefully the janitors had just moved everything. Did she dare ask them? She heaved a sigh. Maybe Jackson had been right about not doing this on her own. She was in so far over her head. But that made it sink-or-swim time. She’d have to take her chances with the men she knew.

  Callie ran down the hall to where she had seen them and knocked on
the door. The smiles that beamed from all three faces reassured her they were happy to see her. There wasn’t even the glimmer of anything but joy, so she spent a few precious minutes speaking with them. It was a balm to her soul to hear them say how sorry they were for her troubles. Their gentle kindness was reassuring. This was her world, the world she had built of warm, loving people who looked out for each other. How had it all gone so wrong?

  She explained to them that she was in a hurry because it probably wasn’t safe for her to be here. When she asked about her belongings, they assured her everything was safe in boxes in the basement.

  Manny, the custodian she had known the longest, insisted on helping her. Callie was scared, but she reassured herself. She’d never been afraid of him before. How many nights had she worked late while these men cleaned? They would always stop by and chat with her as they swept her classroom and the hallway. They were a part of the school family. How sad was it that Rick had made her lose trust in everyone?

  She allowed Manny to help her find the boxes and promised to tell him if she needed any help, but she was relieved when he left her alone in the basement. Truth be told, once she’d set aside her fears, she’d been glad to have him help her find her way. The basement was a maze of rooms ranging from storage space to the boiler room, assorted workshops to vast empty spaces that were meant to be used as a shelter in an emergency. It was confusing under the best of circumstances. No wonder it was off-limits during the school day.

  Half an hour slid by as she dug through boxes of her life. Memories assaulted her of happier times spent with her children. Each piece of her life that she removed from a box held a story. How many of them held clues?

  She was dusty, tired and thirsty. And she wanted Jackson.

  Deciding to give in to temptation, she took out her phone, only to realize there was no signal this far back in the basement. She wandered the room, holding her phone up, and when it finally showed bars, she called. Tears of frustration welled when he didn’t answer. She left a message telling him she was down in the elementary school basement, had called Ben once and was going to call him again.